THE Dolphin Children’s Hospital was among the names ruled out for the National Children’s Hospital.
Acorn and Rainbow were also among 18 put forward in a €4,500 consultancy process.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill snubbed the odd suggestions and went for the basic National Children’s Hospital Ireland[/caption]
The Irish Sun last week revealed how a “specialist branding agency” was brought in to help decide the new Dublin hospital’s name.
But the Health Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, snubbed the odd suggestions and went for the basic National Children’s Hospital Ireland.
The consultancy process cost the State €4,500, with a list of 17 other options drawn up in the process.
They include the Kernal Children’s Hospital, Acorn Children’s Hospital and Dolphin Children’s Hospital.
A series of other variations includes names like The Pearl, Silverbridge, The Wellspring, The Grove, Farelight and Rainbow Children’s Hospital.
The process also threw up some Irish based options including Solas Children’s Hospital, Rialto Children’s Hospital and the All Ireland Children’s Hospital.
The Summit, Lumina and the Central Children’s Hospital were also on the list of names recommended to the Department of Health.
Officials said the “specialist branding agency” was working to a brief of “engagement and inclusivity, being mindful of history and time and cost effectiveness”.
An extensive consulting process saw the names put to a number of groups, with young people quizzed going for the National Children’s Hospital Ireland, unveiled as the winner last week.#
However, in 2023, the Seanad passed a motion across all parties which called for the hospital to be named after Dr Kathleen Lynn — a doctor and activist who was involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.
And FF Senator Mary Fitzpatrick last week blasted the Minister for “wasting public funds” on a naming process that ignored the motion.
Sinn Fein were also highly critical of the Minister for not naming the hospital after the Easter Rising hero.
However, Minister Carroll MacNeill said she went with the National Children’s Hospital Ireland as she believed it would make it easier for people trying to get to the facility.
But she wants Dr Lynn to be part of the hospital, explaining: “I would like to name something in the hospital after her.
“Whether it’s a wing or maybe an education auditorium so that generations of students perhaps can see her name and reflect on her name and know who she is.”
Acorn and Rainbow were also among 18 put forward in a €4,500 consultancy process[/caption]
